How to Become a Master at Haggling? Click here for tips and tricks.
How and Where to Haggle in Thailand: The Ancient Art of Polite Combat Welcome to Thailand, where the smiles are warm, the temples are golden, and the prices for tourists are made up on the spot! That’s right, if you’re paying what’s written on the tag at a market, congratulations, you’ve just sponsored someone’s lunch. And maybe their rent. But fear not, dear traveler, because you too can master the sacred art of haggling, Thailand’s unofficial national sport. First, let’s clarify where to haggle. Shopping mall? No. 7-Eleven? Also no. If you try to bargain for a Snickers bar, you’ll either be met with confusion or pity. But hit up any open-air market, night bazaar, roadside stall, or beach hawker and it’s game on. Places like Chatuchak Market in Bangkok or the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai are basically live-action Monopoly with less real estate and more elephant pants. Now, how to haggle. Step one: pretend you don’t care. Even if you want that handcrafted wooden frog more than you’ve eve...